Bus station revamp plan is just the ticket

Halifax Bus Station

Published:09:00Updated:10:38Monday 11 April 2016

The first concepts of how the new Halifax bus station and rail interchange may work will be revealed later in the spring.

The proposed plans for the new bus station on its existing site and infrastructure are part of the wider West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund programme – a £150m programme of works in Calderdale to deliver improvements to the road, rail, bus, cycle and pedestrian networks.

Stock bus pictures. Halifax Bus Station.

Jenny Marshall, the project manager who will deliver the bus station revamp, said the existing building was no longer fit for purpose.

“There are too many buses coming through the town centre especially along Market Street. We are aiming to make it more accessible friendly for pedestrians.

“We need to make improvements to the road networks and provide a bus service that meets the need of customers and providers so they can flourish along with town centre businesses.

“We have been given a significant allocation from the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund so we need to make sure we get everything right. It is a once in a generation opportunity.

“We’ve had positive discussions with the bus operators and they can see how the plans will benefit them and are looking to work with us and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.”

The Bus Accessibility Study undertaken by Aecom in 2015 identified many issues including low usage of the bus station stands.

As a result of the high number of buses stopping on street the bus station is currently underutilised with several stands are either not used or are served by a negligible number of services each day.

The study also found several bus routes currently terminate on-street. These routes use on-street facilities to park buses causing air quality issues and using town centre space, which otherwise could be available for improved pedestrian facilities or commercial activities.

Proposals will see improvements to the bus-rail interchange at Halifax Rail Station with an extension of some services from north Halifax to the railway station and pedestrianisation of King Edward and Albion Street. The removal of buses will see the introduction of a bus loop to around the town centre without using Market Street, improving journey time reliability for all vehicles.

A public awareness event is expected to take place in May before a final designs and consultation in Summer 2017.